2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.
Sponsored by:

where to mount front license plates

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-11-09, 03:20 PM
  #1  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
 
xUnKnOwNx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
where to mount front license plates

Here in CA, we need to have a front license plate. not on the dash, it needs to be on the bumper. i dont have holes on my bumper and i dont want to drill holes either. I dont want to risk getting pulled over and having them pop my hood and get a state ref. Until now i had use double sided velcro tape, but my front plate fell off. i want to use zip ties but it doesnt look like theres any place i can zip tie it to. Does anyone have any cool ideas on mouning front license plates?
Old 08-11-09, 03:40 PM
  #2  
Senior Member

iTrader: (5)
 
pistones's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: nyc
Posts: 729
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
http://www.rhdjapan.com/jdm-low/CUSC...nt-Mazda-15435
you can try this, or make one of your own. just get some thin sheet metal from home depot and drill some holes.
Old 08-11-09, 03:58 PM
  #3  
Rotorhead

 
Evil Aviator's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
Posts: 9,136
Likes: 0
Received 39 Likes on 33 Posts
You can buy a stock type front license plate holder from Mazdatrix for $25. It mounts to the inside of the front grill. No holes need to be drilled in the front fascia.
http://www.mazdatrix.com/n-3.htm
Old 08-11-09, 04:18 PM
  #4  
Rotary Freak

iTrader: (3)
 
funkjaw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Jose, CA (NorCal/S.F. Bay Area)
Posts: 2,515
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Zip ties alllllllllllll the way. You can find a spot if you get down there and look trust me thats what I did.
Old 08-11-09, 07:17 PM
  #5  
Lives on the Forum

 
Black91n/a's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 5,707
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
I've got mine mounted on a bracket I made from some aluminum bar stock where the stock fog light once was on the passenger side. I think it looks better than the stock center mount and won't obstruct cooling (one of the studs snapped off of mine, hence the new mount).
Old 08-11-09, 10:30 PM
  #6  
Moderator

iTrader: (25)
 
Spirit-RE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Whitewater, WI
Posts: 2,941
Received 39 Likes on 22 Posts
wrap the back of the plate with tape and use zip ties. that way no drilling or scratching involved. Thats how mine is, but its coming off when I get it registered(I hate front plates). I just don't need to give the cops a reason to pull me over with no registration.
Old 08-11-09, 10:51 PM
  #7  
MECP Certified Installer

 
jjwalker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Mesquite, TX-DFW
Posts: 3,176
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
In texas, it became law to have a front mounted license plate on all vehicles. Good thing for me, they left a grandfather clause that said if the vehicle did not originally have a mounting location for a front license plate, you are exempt.

Yay!
Old 08-12-09, 03:13 PM
  #8  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
 
xUnKnOwNx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by nate91242
wrap the back of the plate with tape and use zip ties. that way no drilling or scratching involved. Thats how mine is, but its coming off when I get it registered(I hate front plates). I just don't need to give the cops a reason to pull me over with no registration.
where do i zip ties tie to? i dont see any holes/slits on the bumper
Old 08-12-09, 03:16 PM
  #9  
Jackstand Drifter

iTrader: (10)
 
Osirus9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
inside the windshield on the passenger side ftw
Old 08-12-09, 04:29 PM
  #10  
three spinning triangles

 
20Bforme's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,441
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Osirus9
inside the windshield on the passenger side ftw

you did read the OPs post right?


i like the idea of using aluminum bar stock and making an offset mount... thats my plan anyways.
Old 08-12-09, 05:13 PM
  #11  
Senior Member

 
Wizz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Cleveland
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by jjwalker
In texas, it became law to have a front mounted license plate on all vehicles. Good thing for me, they left a grandfather clause that said if the vehicle did not originally have a mounting location for a front license plate, you are exempt.

Yay!
You do know that "originally"/OEM does have a place to mount a plate, right?
Old 08-12-09, 05:41 PM
  #12  
Jackstand Drifter

iTrader: (10)
 
Osirus9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by 20Bforme
you did read the OPs post right?


i like the idea of using aluminum bar stock and making an offset mount... thats my plan anyways.
woops, no i didn't read that part. You have to have a front plate in chicago, but I haven't been running one for years and I've never been pulled over fwiw.

I'd get one of those offset license plate holders if it came down to it.
Old 08-12-09, 07:45 PM
  #13  
Jpk3200

 
Jpk3200's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 824
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I took mine off when I brought the car back to GA. It's sitting in my basement somewhere...

But yeah, you don't need to screw any holes into your bumper.
Old 08-12-09, 07:50 PM
  #14  
FC guy

iTrader: (8)
 
Rob XX 7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 8,714
Received 16 Likes on 16 Posts
sticking your plate in the windshield is NOT legal, in any state.
You can "get away" with it for a long time, but trust me if they want to you are getting a ticket.

I have had no plate since I own the car, dont make it legal, just means they have better things to bother me, or other people about.

Once in a while at a local cruise spot the cops will start cracking down to keep the traffic and to try to deter people, they will write tickets for everything, so here is everyone in the parkinglot zip tying thier plates to whatever they can before they leave the lot, lol
Old 08-12-09, 08:43 PM
  #15  
Jackstand Drifter

iTrader: (10)
 
Osirus9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
even if they do give you a ticket for it, all you have to do is zip tie your plate on and take a pic of it. then when you go to court the judge will throw the ticket out.
Old 08-12-09, 10:32 PM
  #16  
MECP Certified Installer

 
jjwalker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Mesquite, TX-DFW
Posts: 3,176
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Wizz
You do know that "originally"/OEM does have a place to mount a plate, right?
Uhmm, where? Did it come originally with the car? I have no holes, mounting brackets, or anything for a front license plate.
Old 08-12-09, 11:01 PM
  #17  
Jackstand Drifter

iTrader: (10)
 
Osirus9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
^me neither
Old 08-12-09, 11:03 PM
  #18  
Rotorhead

 
Evil Aviator's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
Posts: 9,136
Likes: 0
Received 39 Likes on 33 Posts
Originally Posted by jjwalker
Uhmm, where? Did it come originally with the car? I have no holes, mounting brackets, or anything for a front license plate.
Yes, it originally came with the car. See my first post in this thread. Most new owners removed it if their region did not require a front license plate.
Old 08-12-09, 11:55 PM
  #19  
Senior Member
 
ATRON3000's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: South Florida
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
zip tie it to the light cover

it doesnt have to face forward does it? just be at the front of the car
Old 08-13-09, 12:53 AM
  #20  
WON'T FORGET DAVE

iTrader: (7)
 
drugblock12a's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Twin Cites
Posts: 1,786
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I just put some brackets on it and mangled it. I beat it up with a hammer and threw dirt on it. I keep it in my bin, so if I get pulled over for not having one I show the cop and tell him it just fell off.

So far I'm 4 for 4. It's really very convincing.
Old 08-13-09, 11:43 AM
  #21  
Like a G6

iTrader: (1)
 
Tofuman FC3S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: In the Dutch Mountains
Posts: 713
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bracket mounted to stock tow hook...

Old 08-13-09, 11:46 AM
  #22  
Smoke moar

 
cmanns's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The yay, California
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by xUnKnOwNx
Here in CA, we need to have a front license plate. not on the dash, it needs to be on the bumper. i dont have holes on my bumper and i dont want to drill holes either. I dont want to risk getting pulled over and having them pop my hood and get a state ref. Until now i had use double sided velcro tape, but my front plate fell off. i want to use zip ties but it doesnt look like theres any place i can zip tie it to. Does anyone have any cool ideas on mouning front license plates?
I just took screws with deep threads? and screwed it in slowly till it was tight, I choose the area right between the rad and brake duct and bent the plate down so it would direct the airflow better.

honestly screw the front plate, show the cop your car had no screw slots cause it didn't come with a front plate, my fc didn't either - when we originally bought it I herd we didn't even get two plates....

My fb has no front plate, never has and never have been bothered by cops, also my rear plate is bent down so its really not readable and still nada.
Old 08-13-09, 01:46 PM
  #23  
Driving RX7's since 1979

iTrader: (43)
 
HOZZMANRX7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: So Cal where the OC/LA/SB counties meet
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
If you look behind the grill, coming down from the bumper you'll find two 10mm bolt studs. That is what you mount the stock bracket onto. The stock bracket is essentially a couple of L brackets welded to a retangular frame for mounting the plate itself.
Old 08-13-09, 01:52 PM
  #24  
Slowpoke

iTrader: (3)
 
Hypertek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Socal
Posts: 5,273
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
ive always done mine like this, find some good bolts, drill and place them in from behind with lock washers and a nut, washer then plate, then washer and lock nut.
I like the look of off center plates bare and straight or with a slight tilt down.


But yeah in cali we need front plates just to be safe, not everyone gets away with it, your just lucky if you never got popped for no plate. and windshield plates looks horrible in my opinion.
Old 08-13-09, 02:15 PM
  #25  
JxT
Senior Member

iTrader: (7)
 
JxT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: California
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just don't give them a reason to pull you over. If you do and they can't find anything to really ticket you on, that's when the bs stuff happens and they'll be like oh so you don't have a front plate huh....ticket. I haven't had a front plate for 3 years now and no issues (lucky me). The old couple that I purchased it from were never given the front plate for whatever reason so that's how it has always been.


Quick Reply: where to mount front license plates



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:15 AM.